Briggs About to Tackle Jim Thorpe, c. 1912

Item Information

Title:
Briggs About to Tackle Jim Thorpe, c. 1912
Description:
A photograph of Briggs, from International YMCA College (now known as Springfield College), about to Tackle Jim Thorpe, from Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. The game is likely taken around November 23, 1912, when the two teams faced off. Ultimately, Springfield lost 30-24, with Jim Thorpe scoring every point for the Carlisle Indians. Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe (May 28, 1888 – March 28, 1953) was an American athlete who played football for the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. Considered one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports, he won Olympic gold medals for the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon, played football (collegiate and professional), and also played professional baseball and basketball. Thorpe retired from athletic competition at the age of 41. The photograph comes from a scrapbook of Springfield College student Lois Laun, Class of 1915. In 1890, Amos Alonzo Stagg, a Yale all-American and major league baseball pitching prospect, came to Springfield College (then known as the YMCA Training School) and started the college’s first football team. A grad student in a one-year program to become a YMCA Physical Director, he served as Coach, Manager, Captain, and Player on this original team often called “Stagg’s Eleven” or “The Stubby Christians.” The team finished the first season with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses, playing Yale strongly in the first indoor football game ever played in Madison Square Garden. Among other greats to coach the football team was James Huff McCurdy. McCurdy came to Springfield in 1895 and headed the team till 1917. He is largely responsible for helping to grow the Springfield College football team’s reputation and starting a long tradition of being feared by other colleges, in addition to his innovative work in exercise physiology. Later, Oscar “Ossie” Solem, famous Syracuse University coach, coached the team from 1946-1957.
Date:
[1912?]
Format:
Photographs
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
Scrapbook Collection
Subjects:
International Young Men's Christian Association College
Springfield College
Springfield College--Football
Springfield College--Sports
Springfield College--Sports--Men
Thorpe, Jim, 1887-1953
Briggs, Harrison R.
Athletes
Football
Athletic fields
Football players
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/6702
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Notes:
Photograph is part of the Lois F. Laun Postal Souvenirs, 1911-1915, Scrapbook
Identifier:
Briggs about to tackle Jim Thorpe